Catheter cleaning devices

Abstract

The present invention provides catheter cleaning devices that are effective at reducing microbial contamination of a catheter port entry. For example, the invention provides a catheter, a catheter cleaning device and a catheter cleaning injection port cap, each of which reduces potential microbial contamination at a catheter port entry.

Description

[0001]This application claims the benefit of priority of application Ser. No. 60 / 774,708, filed Feb. 17, 2006, the entire contents of which is incorporated herein by reference.[0002]This application relates generally to the field of medicine and more specifically to catheter devices.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]Central venous catheters (CVCs) are indispensible devices for medical practice, particularly among critically ill patients, cancer patients, and those that receive intravenous feeding. These devices allow for the rapid infusion of concentrated medications, fluids, or blood products that can otherwise not be administered via a standard intravenous catheter inserted into a peripheral extremity vein. Although such catheters supply necessary vascular access, they also put the patient at risk for significant infection, which can be life-threatening.[0004]There are an estimated 3 million CVCs inserted each year in the USA and 200,000 in Great Britain (Little and Palmer, Nursing...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

"The invention provides an injection port cap and a catheter cleaning device with an absorbent element for cleaning the catheter. The injection port cap has a movable frit that forms a reservoir between the frit and the catheter, and a biasing element that pushes the frit towards the catheter. The catheter cleaning device has a passageway with a sealing element, absorbent elements, brushes, a luer connector, and a reservoir. The invention helps to keep the catheter clean and prevents blockages."

Problems solved by technology

Although such catheters supply necessary vascular access, they also put the patient at risk for significant infection, which can be life-threatening.

The use of needleless catheter devices has been associated with an increased risk for bloodstream infection (Kellerman et al., J. Pediatr. 129:711-717 (1996); Do et al., J. Infect. Dis. 179:442-448, (1999)).

The hub is often contaminated during manipulation necessary to draw blood samples, administer medication, fluid, or parenteral nutrition.

Current hub designs were designed primarily to ensure a tight connection with intravenous tubing, but were not designed specifically to prevent hub and endoluminal catheter microbial colonization.

Needleless systems now in current use may also result in increased infection risk when compared to previous needled systems (Danzig et al., JAMA 273:1862-1864 (1995); Kellerman et al., J. Pediatr. 129:711-717 (1996)).

Often however, such care is less than optimal and, in an emergency situation especially, catheter hubs are not often cleaned appropriately (Stotter et al., JPEN 11: 159-162 (1987); Sitges-Serra, Support Care Cancer 7:391-395 (1999)).

Neither the currently used Luer-lock connector or the rubber membrane “piggyback” system have antimicrobial properties and therefore require strict aseptic manipulation.

In addition, proper hub care requires additional training and increases the time required for already constrained health care professionals.

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